DCSIMG
 
 

Elijah Kelley Movies

Multifaceted performer Elijah Kelley debuted on camera in his early teens, initially with bit parts that included roles in the racially-themed drama A Lesson Before Dying (1999) and the prime-time cop drama The Shield. Kelley's enduring passions and most heightened gifts, however, lay in dancing and vocal performance -- gifts he showcased with great aplomb in two successive projects: the dance-themed drama Take the Lead (2006) and the blockbuster movie musical Hairspray (2007). ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
2012  
PG13  
Add Red Tails to Queue Add Red Tails to top of Queue  
The thrilling true story of the Tuskegee Airmen buzzes to the big screen in this epic war adventure from executive producer George Lucas and first-time feature director Anthony Hemingway. In the fire and chaos of World War II, the U.S. military recruits a fearless group of African-American fighter pilots to help reclaim the skies over Europe. Discriminated against both as citizens and as soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen take flight in planes distinguished by distinctive red tails, and fight to defeat the tyranny of the Axis powers. As a result of their bravery, the pilots emerge as true heroes, and prove that all men are truly created equal. Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Bryan Cranston star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Terrence HowardCuba Gooding, Jr., (more)
 
2010  
NR  
Four college coeds take some potent psychotropics during a trip to the beach and find their fun in the sun quickly turning dark. At first everyone is content just to lie around drinking piƱa coladas and dancing the night away. But when a shady surfer shares some heavy hallucinogens, everyone's most intense anxieties start bubbling to the surface. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Lydia HyslopTrieste Dunn, (more)
 
2007  
PG  
Add Hairspray to Queue Add Hairspray to top of Queue  
Adam Shankman's adaptation of the stage musical Hairspray, itself an adaptation of the non-musical John Waters film of the same name, stars Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight high-school student whose only dream is to be on a local Baltimore teen dance program. While her father (Christopher Walken) tells her to follow her dreams, her mother Edna (John Travolta in drag) reminds her that she doesn't look like the girls on that show. After impressing the show's host (James Marsden), Tracy earns a coveted spot on the program, but when she becomes a popular addition to the cast, she earns the wrath of the prettiest girl in school -- a girl whose mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) just happens to operate the local television station. Tracy's visit to detention hall opens her eyes to the racial tension on the show, as does the budding relationship between her best friend (Amanda Bynes) and an African-American boy named Seaweed (Elijah Kelley). Thus empowered, Tracy attempts to integrate the races on her favorite program. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
John TravoltaMichelle Pfeiffer, (more)
 
2006  
PG13  
Add Take the Lead to Queue Add Take the Lead to top of Queue  
A teacher and his students open up new worlds for one another in this urban drama inspired by a true story. Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) is a prize-winning ballroom dancer and instructor from Manhattan who volunteers his services to a high school in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Principal Augustine James (Alfre Woodard) in turn gives Dulaine a tough assignment -- a detention class with some of the biggest troublemakers on campus. When the kids learn that Dulaine intends to teach them how to dance in the classic style, they're incredulous at best and dismissive at worst -- until Dulaine demonstrates his moves for the class. While Dulaine's charges -- including Rock (Rob Brown), LaRhette (Yaya DaCosta), Ramos (Dante Basco), Eddie (Marcus T. Paulk), and Sasha (Jenna Dewan) -- respect his talent, they have their own way of dancing, and as they mix hip-hop moves with ballroom discipline, they create an exciting new style. Dulaine also strives to instill self-confidence and a work ethic in his kids, insisting they can make their way out of the ghetto if they're willing to try. Screenwriter Dianne Houston based Take the Lead on the real-life story of Pierre Dulaine, who taught dance as a volunteer to at-risk students at New York elementary schools. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Antonio BanderasRob Brown, (more)
 
2006  
 
Add Rome and Jewel to Queue Add Rome and Jewel to top of Queue  
The African-American son of a Compton minister and the Caucasian daughter of the mayor of Los Angeles enter into a forbidden interracial romance in this contemporary hip-hop-infused retelling of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Reverend Q may be a man of the cloth, but when his son Rome (Nate Parker) begins dating rebellious blonde beauty Jewel (Lindsey Haun), father and son are driven apart by bigotry and hatred. Does Jewel truly love Rome, or is her devilish grin actually an indicator that the spontaneous 16-year-old is just playing games by dabbling in the forbidden? Later, when Rome and Jewel abscond to Los Angeles to elope, spliff-smoking DJ/drug dealer Mercury sells his soul in order to return from the grave and track the two lovers down. Will Rome and Jewel actually exchange vows, and why has Mercury entered into such a dire pact in order to destroy their romance? As the journey gets under way, passions flair and old grudges threaten to drive these star-crossed lovers toward a bitter and tragic end. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Nate ParkerLindsey Haun, (more)
 
2005  
 
Cal (Joe Renteria), an old friend of Vic's (Michael Chiklis) who owns a restaurant, asks Vic to help him straighten out one of his employees, Cyril (Peter Pasco), who has a drug problem and has apparently disappeared. Vic goes out of his way to help Cal, which has negative repercussions when Cyril's problems turn out to be more serious, and he's involved in a shoot-out while robbing a store. Ben Gilroy (John Diehl, uncredited) turns up dead after apparently living a very rough life in Mexico. Aceveda (Benito Martinez) decides to shut down the AGC sting operation, because Louis (Dominic Hoffman) betrayed them, opening up a new company with seed money from the big clients he warned about the sting. Monica (Glenn Close) decides to offer Louis a deal to set up a new operation at the new company, angering Aceveda, who has not officially stepped down yet. Monica also gets the men's room fixed, and tells Aceveda that she plans to use a new forfeiture plan to seize criminals' assets and auction them off to pay for The Barn's upkeep and donate some cash to local social programs. Shane (Walton Goggins) has been shaking down the pimps and dealers on his beat, and is breaking in a new partner, Armando (Michael Pena of Crash), an Iraq War veteran. Vic confronts Shane about his possible connection to Antwon (Anthony Anderson), which Shane denies. But Vic still has his suspicions. Corrine (Cathy Cahlin Ryan) and Vic consider joining a class-action suit against a vaccine company. Dutch (Jay Karnes) and Claudette (CCH Pounder) bring in a prostitute (Donna Cooper) who's been raped, and Aceveda, still struggling with his own personal trauma, takes a special interest in the case. This episode also includes an uncredited appearance by Katey Sagal as Nancy Gilroy. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

 Read More

 
1999  
PG13  
Add A Lesson Before Dying to Queue Add A Lesson Before Dying to top of Queue  
Don Cheadle, Mekhi Phifer, and Cicely Tyson star in this drama set in the 1940s about a black man sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit and teacher who is to counsel him as he awaits execution. A Lesson Before Dying is based on a novel by Ernest J. Gaines. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

 Read More

Starring:
Don CheadleCicely Tyson, (more)